"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Saturday, August 06, 2016

Wisdom and Power Are His

Today's Reading:Daniel 2:24-3:30Matthew 24:1-28Proverbs 19:23-20:4Click on Text Link to Read OnlineFocus Verses:Daniel 2:17-2017 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18
He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning
this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the
rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.Insight:
The
magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers who served King
Nebuchadnezzar claimed to have special gifts of interpretation and
secret knowledge. The King challenged the credibility of these claims by
saying essentially, "Anybody can make up an interpretation to a dream.
If you're so smart, tell me what I dreamed. If you can't tell me the
dream I had, why should I believe your explanation of it?"

Daniel,
on the other hand, claimed no special gift or secret knowledge.
Instead he simply professed his faith in the God who knows all things.
Daniel's ability to reveal and interpret the king's dream would only be
possible with God's help and revelation. So Daniel cried out to the
Lord, and when God answered his prayer, Daniel's immediate response was
to give thanks, praise, and testimony for God's provision.

Response and Action:
The
world is filled with needs I cannot meet, questions I cannot answer,
and problems I cannot solve. While many claim to have all the answers,
their solutions usually fail. That is not a mistake I want to make.

Instead,
like Daniel, I simply want to put my faith and confidence in God’s
power to meet needs, provide answers, and solve problems. I will cry out
to God for the insight and wisdom I need to serve and bless others. I
will give God praise and thanks for any good thing he helps me do in
his name.

O
God, by the grace of your Holy Spirit, transform and empower me to be
your servant. By following in the footsteps of Jesus, teach me to live
out grace and truth that blesses others. By the instruction, rebuke,
and correction of your Holy Scriptures, train me in righteousness and
make me thoroughly equipped for every good work. I ask all this in
Jesus' name, with a readiness to give thanks and praise to you for
every mercy you grant. Amen.Spiritual Formation Verses:James 1:5-65 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.Resources:Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential
by Gordon T. Smith

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About Me

I serve as the lead pastor with Valley Christian Church in Lakeville, MN and publish two blogs – Altered Faces (Faith, Humor, Life, and the Arts) and Useful Breath (a daily journal for Bible readers). You can contact me through my website which also has information about my music and ministry.